Israel Vows Court Fight as France Walls Off Displays at Paris Air Show
ÎLE-DE-FRANCE, FRANCE, JUN 16 – French authorities blocked five Israeli defense firms over offensive weapons displays amid Gaza conflict, affecting $148 billion defense exports and sparking legal and diplomatic disputes.
- French authorities blocked access to Israeli defence company booths at the Paris Air Show on June 16, 2025, by erecting black walls around them.
- The decision followed France's stance against displaying offensive weapons amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, which French Prime Minister François Bayrou cited as the ban's rationale.
- Israeli firms affected include Rafael, Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, and UVision, whose weapons are reportedly used in Gaza and Iran and were hidden behind panels since Monday morning.
- Rafael's executive vice president, Shlomo Toaff, indicated the company anticipates financial losses totaling tens of millions of dollars and pledged to take legal action against the French government for the damages caused by being denied access.
- Israel condemned the closure as outrageous and unprecedented, with President Isaac Herzog demanding immediate correction, while France defended its position to exclude offensive weapons given the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
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Israeli Arms Firm Threatens to Sue France Over Blocked Off Booths at Paris Air Show
View of the closed IAI stand at the 55th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport on June 16, 2025. Photo: Facebook/Israel Ministry of Defense The Israeli weapons company Rafael said it will sue the French government for closing off its stand at the 55th Paris Air Show this week because of “offensive” items on display amid Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Since the start of the world’s biggest aviation trade show on M…
Israeli arms firm Rafael to sue France over sealed booth at Paris Air Show
Israeli defence company Rafael says it will sue the French government after its stand at the Paris Air Show was blocked off when the company refused to remove attack weapons. French authorities said the decision was taken in light of the war in Gaza.
French court rules it lacks authority to intervene in French government’s decision
Israel’s Ministry of Defense Director General, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, condemns French court decision, accusing the French government of economic bias aimed at undermining Israeli defense industries.
Specializing in defence electronics, the Rafael Systems Group will file a complaint against the prohibition against exposing which has been served on it.
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